Lackluster Lazers Upset by Tacoma, 6-2

The Lazers can only hope that Wednesday was just one of those nights, that their 6-2 Major Indoor Soccer League loss to Tacoma is not a prelude of things to come.

If the Lazers play in the playoffs as they did against the Stars, they will be making a quick exit.

Wednesday night’s defeat left the Lazers (23-21) just two games ahead of the Wichita Wings with four games left in the battle for third place in the MISL’s Western Division. The top three teams will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs and advance straight to the quarterfinals.

Winning third place will not be easy for the Lazers, especially since two of their final four games are against the first-place San Diego Sockers, while another is against second-place Las Vegas.

Roy Wegerle scored two goals for the Stars (16-28) Wednesday, but it was goalkeeper John Baretta who was most responsible for Tacoma’s upset win. Baretta allowed just two goals on 30 shots, and many of his saves and blocks were spectacular.

But Baretta thought he had been more effective on March 16, when the Lazers beat Tacoma, 3-0.

“I played better that day,” he said. “And Mike (Mahoney) played steady, but he’s tired.”

Mahoney is the Lazer goalkeeper who shut out Tacoma the last time the teams met. This time, he was sent running for cover by three third-period goals that blew the game open.

Mahoney was not completely to blame, especially since it was his play in the first half that kept the Lazers in the game.

The Lazer offense suffered from the loss of No. 2 scorer Willie Molano to injury. The Lazer defense just plain suffered.

Tacoma led, 2-1, at halftime, and only excellent goalkeeping by Mahoney prevented it from being worse.

Mahoney made a diving block of a Dale Mitchell shot early in the second period, and followed that later in the quarter with two brilliant blocks on shots by Gary Heale.

Tacoma scored both first-half goals in the opening quarter. The first came when Wegerle drilled one by Mahoney from just outside the penalty box with a little under 11 minutes left in the quarter.

Ian Bridge followed that six minutes later with a score from in front of the goal. Mitchell’s cross-field pass set it up.

The Lazers played a sluggish first quarter, attempting just three shots. In the second period, they managed nine shots, including Juan Cardenas’ goal from just outside the penalty box.